the million have been washed up on the norfolk coast. in a moment, it will be time for the sport, but now look at what else is coming up. we will be speaking to the former british army commander about the government's decision to close the investigation into the alleged abuse of iraqi civilians by british soldiers. we will have more on the self—employed plumber who won his battle for basic worker's rights at the court of appeal. and as people in new zealand try to save hundreds of stranded whales, we will hear from a writer who specialises in the animal. now it is time for the sport. hello and welcome to sportsday, i'm john watson. on the way tonight... can anyone catch chelsea? liverpool and spurs are trying as they go head to head in the premier league this weekend. and stripped of gold — the russian athlete banned for doping following victory at the london olympics.

i will be live from cardiff this week's addition of inside six nations. i will be joined week's addition of inside six nations. i will bejoined by week's addition of inside six nations. i will be joined by the former wales international martyn williams, to preview a raqqa preview all this we can's six nations action. yes we'll be back with lizzie in cardiff a little later in the programme. tonight though, can anyone stop chelsea 7 the premier legaue leaders are nine points clear at the top, a lead which could be reduced to six points, should second—placed tottenham win tomorrow. they lead the chasing pack, but travel to anfield to face liverpool, who themselves have not given up their feint title hopes, despite having failed to win in therl last five league matches. strong opponent. until yesterday,

not a flying situation for us. if we play like we played in the first half against hull, no chance. if we play like we played in the second half, but a chance. but we should play better. we should be ready to fight because it will be a very, very difficult game. they are not on a good run, but liverpool have very good players and for me it is one of the best squads, not only in england, if not in europe. i am sure they will be motivated and tottenham and liverpool is always a big, big match. leon osman played in the premier league for everton for 16 years. thanks forjoining us. let's start with the big game, how important is this game for liverpool and spurs? if they have any title aspirations,

it is huge, to try and get the points back to chelsea. they both need to start in the next game and thatis need to start in the next game and that is this big one on saturday. can anyone catch chelsea? it is going to be very difficult, but if they don't have belief, no one will. all the clubs around them have to believe that chelsea will slip and the points can be made up. that involves winning big games when they come around and that will be this weekend and both clubs will intend to win it. it is interesting listening to arsene wenger, his side are only three points behind totte n ha m , are only three points behind tottenham, that appear to have been ruled out of the title race. he says they are still in it, do you think they are still in it, do you think they still are? it is a good point he is making, only three points behind and they are ruled out? when it comes to the crunch moments and big ties when arsenal are expected to turn up and perform, theyjust haven't done so. they have been found wanting, especially away from

home when crowds have got after them. they just haven't home when crowds have got after them. theyjust haven't been able to deliver and i think it is that, more than the points tally that is why people are ruining them out of the title race. they are in the chasing pack, looking to hunt down chelsea at the moment. of those teams, who do you think will finish in the top four? i would say spurs, would probably be second, if chelsea are going to slip up, they will be the closest. i think the way the other two tea ms closest. i think the way the other two teams are going about it from manchester, both have the potential to finish in the top four as well. ifi to finish in the top four as well. if i was going to stick my neck out, maybe get myself in trouble in some quarters, i would say both manchester clubs and spurs willjoin chelsea in the top four.|j manchester clubs and spurs willjoin chelsea in the top four. i am sure liverpool and arsenal fans will have something to say about that. leon osman, joined me earlier in the studio. in scotland it's the fifth round of the cup. first up are celtic against inverness in saturday's

lunchtime kick off. but, the big tie of the round is on sunday with the edinburgh derby between hearts and hibs. rangers against greenock morton complete the round. the russian athlete mariya savinova, who won olympic gold in the 800 metres at london 2012 has been stripped of her medal and retrospectively banned from competing. savinova, who beat caster semenya to gold in london has been found guilty of doping offences by the court of arbitartion for sport. all of her results from july 2010 through to august 2013 have been wiped from her record. mixed feelings then for the british runnerjenny meadows who was beaten by savinova at the 2010 european championships where she won bronze. it isa it is a mixture of elation that i will hopefully be upgraded for the silver medal and sadness and

disappointment as a fan of this sport. i was a fan of mariya savinova as well. what she did on the track was fantastic. i feel disappointed and cheated as a fan as well, that what we saw wasn't believable, unfortunately. great britain will face second seeds croatia in the fed cup promotion play—off tomorrow. their place was sealed after lativa beat portugal in britain's group which meant gb will top group c having won all of three ties under new captain anne keothavong 3—0. turkey were the latest team to be defeated with laura robson and jocelyn rae rounding off the whitewash in the doubles after singles victories for heather watson and johanna konta. danny willett is one shot off the lead in malaysia. he made six birdies to finish the day on five under par. he trails band buys worker. the austrian made an impressive nine under par 63. marc

warren lost the lead after a second round of 75. the overnight leader hit three bogeys and a triple bogey on the last six holes as his three over round left him on six under. in a moment we'll have inside six nations from cardiff, but as wales and england prepare to go head—to—head tomorrow, one player who's not playing on the biggest stage is on the verge of breaking the premiership‘s all—time try—scoring record. bristol winger tom varndell, needs just one more try to pass mark cueto's record of 90 premiership tries, and could do it tonight when his side face harlequins, as patrick gearey reports. there aren't many who can keep up with tom varndell, one of the fastest players around, you have the wait for the replay is the captain. with leicester, wasps and bristol he has turned pays into points and one more try will take into the premiership record. scoring tries is what i love to do. it is myjob in the team being on the end of most of

the team being on the end of most of the moves. most players like to leave their mark on the game, if i can do it with my try scoring, it is fantastic. he has played 12 seasons at english rugby‘s highest level. he has appeared in 176 premiership games and run in 90 tries. a figure that him if; " eelquw must try g: , eelquw must try ‘g sale 7 eelquw must try i sale sharks the must try scorer for sale sharks and england. a man who knows the miles that goes into every finish. his biggest asset is his speed. he is lightning quick, always one of the fastest guys. from an athletic point of view, there isn't anyone better out there than him. that is credit to him. he is creeping into his 30s now, so to keep in the shape he is in, he is doing well. there is no difference between them. mark cu eto no difference between them. mark cueto played 55 times for his country, and tom varndelljust four. dream debut for tom varndell at 20.

england represents a rarity, a chance missed. i would have loved to have had more opportunity. i would like to give it more of a shot. what i like about the england setup, they are developing the young lads. developing an international team and playing to their strengths.“ developing an international team and playing to their strengths. if you playing to their strengths. if you play it on g there is g— to "1 back. as ; 77,777 to co " back. as ; 77,777 to co " be throttle 777777 to co " be throttle at 777777 to co " be throttle at his 77777 prepares to go full throttle at his neck shot for the record against harlequins, he has fired the l has signed a new contract with bristol. this career is set to keep on running. we do have more rugby to come. now it's time for inside six nations with lizzie greenwood—hughes in cardiff. what an opening week we had two this yea r‘s what an opening week we had two this year's six nations tournament. scotla nd

year's six nations tournament. scotland stunned ireland, england's unbeaten run continues, although they looked more sluggish against france and wales turned it on in rome to beat italy and top the table. where else to be than cardiff for this week's inside six nations. look at that, the roof is open here at the principality stadium. good evening from the heart of cardiff. in around 22 hours, the dragons will be roaring as wales take on england in what we hope will be another classic encounter. someone who knows all about the rivalry between wales and england is martyn williams. good evening. we will be getting his wisdom and insight into the action, but first let's remind ourselves of what happened in week one. we are underway in the 2017 six

nations. two tries for scotland. ireland have hits back. great from greig laidlaw. they have beaten ireland. try is going to be scored.